Just wondered if anyone could offer some advice, I have 3 baby rats, two are friendly and come out the cage and will come over to me but the Siamese one hides at every opportunity and when I do manage to stroke him he’s fine then he just bites me and makes me bleed. I’m not sure what to do with him cos my daughter is scared of him too now, I’m not giving up on him cos he’s so handsome and lovely! Any advice would be amazing to get us through this rough patch? Thank you

Does he have red eyes? It could be that he doesn't see you approaching and bites through being startled. Try warning him beforehand, use the same phrase and he will quickly learn that you're about to pick him up.

You could rustle a piece of paper, or the substrate, and say something like "hello 'name', just picking you up" - if you repeat that every time you pick him up both in and out of the cage, he'll quickly come to understand what it means.

Sound advice It sounds to me like he's freezing when you stroke him and then lashing out. Positive reinforcement will help lots with this, by making every encounter with you a good memory one, so when youre able to pet him, or encourage him over to the door to see you, reward him with a wee treat. Even something as simple as an oat flake and he'll start to trust you more. Also "scooping" him him with two hands may be better than picking him up from above if that makes sense.

Thank you!Last night I took the lid of the cage when he was at the bottom and sat there with him for half hour chatting and stroking him, he kept trying to bury himself under the stuff anyway I eventually picked him up with two hands and wanted to take him away from the cage and sit with him but he just was so quick and got on the cage and seemed panicked so I let him back in, I stroke him this morning and he left me stroke him and I spoke to him the whole time! So hoping little bit a time and he will get there! He’s so gorgeous and I don’t want him to be a wild one! I just want cuddles with him!

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